Human Rights 

The Vietnamese government has been using forces in dealing with conflicts with the Vietnamese Catholic Church, starting with a trial in February 2007 which wrongfully sentenced Father Ly Van Nguyen, for eight years in prison. In 2008, the oppression escalated when the Vietnamese government sent in troops and police forces to stop a peaceful citizen candle vigil protest regarding the land dispute between the government and the Vietnamese Catholic church of Tam Toa in Northern Vietnam. A similar conflict also happened to Thai Ha Catholic church in 2009. Most recently, in welcoming the year 2010, the Vietnamese government persecutes Dong Chiem Catholic church by forcefully removing the Christian Cross and confiscating their lands. Catholic leaders and members who have spoken against the unlawful confiscation of the church's properties have been imprisoned or physically abused by the under-cover police officers.

I disagree with the persecution of the Vietnamese government on the members of the Vietnamese Catholic church. Therefore, I ask that you join me in a petition to the government of Canada on this serious issue to speak for those who are oppressed and cannot speak. 

Happy New Year 2010

I’d like to wish you all a happy 2010! My thanks go to everyone who came to our holiday open house in December. We had a packed house and it was a pleasure to see all of you come by. Please feel free to stop by my office at 5022 Joyce St any time though the year. I am always happy to help with any problems or difficulty you may be having with the provincial government or to hear your ideas for making our province a better place to live.

Windermere Climate Change Conference a Success

I was proud to attend the opening and afternoon sessions of the C3 Climate Change Conference held at Windermere Secondary school on December 11th. The conference was timed to coincide with the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and managed to add an important local voice to the global debate.

I would like to recognize the organising committee: Amber Bhangoo, Anson Lee, Brendan Chan, Cassanda Ly, Chanel Ly, Chitha Manoranjan, Chris Le, Chris Tam, Eric Lam, Henry Lau, Henry Tan, Jenny Ho, Jonathan Fung, Kevin Liu, Linda Phan, Mitchell Agostinho, Neelam Khare, Peggy Lam, Puneet Riar, Tiffany Tran, and Emily Chan. The leadership and dedication of this group of students came through in the organisation and value of the conference, and my congratulations go out to all of them for a successful day!

Congratulations to BC Youth Parliament Participants

I would also like to recognize two local students who were selected to participate in the British Columbia Youth Parliament over the school break. Amber Bhangoo and Puneet Riar, both students at Windermere and also members of the C3 organizing committee, went to Victoria at the end of December to take their seats in the legislature. As turnout decreases in elections across the country, programs such as British Columbia Youth Parliament become ever more critical for engaging people in our democratic process. I am glad to support the next generation of leaders in our province, and am always happy to provide advice and information to anyone who would like to become more involved in our province’s legislative processes. I have no doubt that Amber and Puneet will be active voices in our province for many years to come.

Ron Eikenberry collects 1,680 signatures against the HST

My friend and neighbour Ron Eikenberry joined me in Victoria on the last day of the fall session to present 1,680 signatures in opposition to the government’s proposed Harmonised Sales Tax. The HST is the wrong tax at the wrong time, and I would like to thank Ron for his work over the fall in singlehandedly collecting signatures from so many in our community.